Office of Planning and Development

**Office of Planning & Development** The Office of Planning and Development (OPD) at the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs provides technical assistance, training, and resources to various stakeholders on the laws and regulations pertaining to land use development and municipal planning; the promotion of sound floodplain management practices; the location and pace of development in the state through population and housing data; maintaining and promoting geographic information system data and mapping; and other statewide planning issues through interagency coordination. The following are links to the programs, services and resources available at OPD. **What We Do** The Office of Planning and Development (OPD) administers the following programs related to state and local land use planning. **[Council on Resources and Development](https://www.nheconomy.com/office-of-planning-and-development/who-we-are/council-on-resources-and-development)** The Council on Resources and Development provides a forum for interagency cooperation in assuring consistency with established policies relating to the environment, natural resources, and growth management issues under RSA 162-C. The Commissioner of the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs chairs CORD and OPD staff provide support. [**Floodplain Management Program**](https://www.nheconomy.com/office-of-planning-and-development/what-we-do/floodplain-management-program) The Floodplain Management Program administers the National Flood Insurance Program in New Hampshire and provides technical assistance, training, and resources to communities and the public on floodplain management and helps to promote sound land use planning techniques that will reduce flood losses. [**Geographic Information System Program**](https://www.nheconomy.com/office-of-planning-and-development/what-we-do/geographic-information-systems) The Geographic Information System Program provides mapping support and geographic analysis to other programs at OPD, develops geographic data layers for the statewide GRANIT project, and provides guidance to GRANIT through its position as coordinator of the statewide GIS Advisory Committee. [**Municipal and Regional Planning Assistance Program**](https://www.nheconomy.com/office-of-planning-and-development/what-we-do/municipal-and-regional-planning-assistance) Municipal and Regional Planning Assistance Program provides information, guidance, and training to municipal officials and staff, regional and state planners and the general public about laws and regulations pertaining to land use. **[State Data Center (Census Data)](https://www.nheconomy.com/office-of-planning-and-development/what-we-do/state-data-center-(census-data))** The State Data Center in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau provides the public with access to census data and customized data products such as OPD’s annual population estimates.